Fort Myers Homicides

Corey Perrine/Staff A Fort Myers police officer walks American Avenue near Davis Court, the scene of a drive-by shooting late on the night of Sept. 23 in Fort Myers. Authorities said a local rap group, the Lake Boyz, were targeted in the shooting. Jamaris Williams, 19, of the group, died in the incident. Two others members of the Lake Boyz who were with Williams at the time suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Corey Perrine/Staff Latravia Baker, 21, from left, holds up a sign July 20, 2012, outside the Lee County Justice Center Complex while daughter, Sonya Williams, 3, holds on to mom and cousin Tymaria Williams, 8, helps protest in Fort Myers. Da'Wuan Williams, 22, was was stabbed after an altercation June 13, 2012 in Pine Manor community. The Williams family seeks justice since no one has been charged in connection with his death. Baker, the mother of Da'Wuan's children, and girlfriend of three years, helps with protesting when she can. "When it happened, I cried, I just thought about my kids," Baker said. "No one could treat his kids like their dad."

Corey Perrine/Staff Brittany Williams, 7, sheds tears as the family laments the loss of their family member Da'Wuan Williams Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Williams Residence in Fort Myers. According to her grandmother, Jacqueline Addison-Casiano, is having the toughest time of the young children between siblings and cousins, she cries in the church sanctuary because it reminds her of Da'Wuan.

Corey Perrine/Staff Florine Powell speaks to the grave of her son, Cedric Robinson, July 23, 2012 at Fort Myers Cemetery. "Look at this, would you just look at this?" Powell says. "Look what they've done," speaking about the liquor bottles Robinson's friends left as tokens of respect in his honor. However, Powell said that she understands why they are placed there. Powell admits she doesn't visit often because the pain is still overwhelming. This was the first time in several months since his death, June 6, 2011, that she visited. Robinson was 20. "The last time I came out here was right after his anniversary. For his birthday, I couldn't get out of the car. I just drove by and I sat there and I just couldn't get out of the car. I've been out here maybe three times. I just can't."

Corey Perrine/Staff Photos of Da'Wuan Williams hang in the Williams residence home July 19, 2012 in Fort Myers.

Corey Perrine/Staff Jacqueline Addison-Casiano is seen in worship at Mount Hermon Ministries next to Latravia Baker, right, July 22, 2012, in Fort Myers. While Addison-Casiano was protesting on the street the other day an older man approached, "He was saying to me that he was losing his faith in God because he dosen't see any changes because of all the murderers and the killings and nothing is changing in our society, 'I'm losing my faith,' (he said). I said 'Please sir don't stop praying.' Thirty minutes easy, he and I talked for. Then he was praying."

Corey Perrine/Staff Denae Hendley shows off a pendant with a photo containing her son, Desmond Jones, 13, before going to homicide support group, Parents of Murdered Children, Aug. 7, 2012 in Fort Myers. "I was in a shell the first six months," Hendley said. "Basically I wanted to die."

Corey Perrine/Staff Brittany Williams, 7, bottom, sheds tears at the feet of Theodore Williams, with Anika Williams, 15, looking toward the window as they lament the loss of their family member Da'Wuan Williams Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Williams Residence in Fort Myers. Da'Wuan Williams, 22, was killed June 13, 2012 in Pine Manor community. The Williams family seeks justice since no one has been charged in connection to the murder of Da'Wuan. According to Jacqueline Addison-Casiano, Du'Wuan's grandmother, Brittany is having the hardest time coping with the loss. She can't even go into the church sanctuary on Sunday's because it reminds her of Du'Wuan. "This is the first person in our whole family on this side, the first Williams to ever pass away, the first young man to be murdered," Theodore said. "I do believe their life (cousins and siblings) is going to change because of this shift."

Corey Perrine/Staff Jacqueline Addison-Casiano, grandmother of Da'Wuan Willams holds up her smartphone July 19, 2012 containing the last text dated June 12 she received from Da'Wuan at the Willams residence in Fort Myers. Da'Wuan Williams, 22, was stabbed and killed June 13, 2012 in Pine Manor community. The Williams family seeks justice since no one has been charged in connection with his death.

Corey Perrine/Staff Pastor James C. Givens greets Annie Campbell after church Sept. 23, 2012 at Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Myers. "I try to give sermons of hope and inspiration, stressing the importance of family. I go back to the basics. In the beginning, African American families didn't hve much, but we had each other," Givens said.

Corey Perrine/Staff Denae Hendley wipes tears Aug. 7, 2012 after talking about the death of her son, Desmond Jones, 13, during a support group, Parents of Murdered Children, in Fort Myers of those affected by homicides. "People do tell you, you need to get over it," Hendley said. "It took me awhile to want to talk," Hendley said.

Corey Perrine/Staff The bedroom of Desmond Jones is seen July 23, 2012 unchanged since the day he last set foot there in April 2011. Jones, 13, was murdered April 27, 2011 in Fort Myers and was found in a driveway on Lillie Street with a bullet to his head. Jones played football and his jerseys were made into pillows by a friend. On his bed are the blood-stained clothes that he last wore. His mother, Denae Hendley, grieves to this day the loss of her son. However, she has been proactive in creating the support and awareness group M.A.M. -- Mothers Against Murderers.

Devon Gallagher, 19, shows the scar where a bullet entered his body June 2007 during an attempted robbery of the Neighborhood Discount Store on Ford Street in Fort Myers. Gallagher was 14 at the time when brother Damione Massey, 16, died at the scene, after the store manager fired back, wounding Gallagher. Gallagher is currently serving time at the DeSoto Annex in Arcadia on marijuana possession, a parole violation. He is expected to be released from state prison in 2017. He then faces 11 years in federal prison. Gallagher said his whole body froze after he was shot, "I know I'm shot because I see all the blood out me. I said, 'Please, God, let me live.'"

Naples Daily News

Corey Perrine/Staff Liquor bottles are seen placed by Cedric Robinson's friends July 23, 2012 at his graveside paying respect to his life. Robinson died from injuries sustained in a shooting at Clemente Park at Lee Memorial Hospital Monday, June 6, 2011 in Fort Myers. Robinson's killer was never arrested. Robinson was 20.

Corey Perrine/Staff Denae Hendley shows signs of frustration and sorrow after talking about the death of her son July 23, 2012, at a park in Fort Myers. Her son, Desmond Jones, died after being shot in the head found April 27, 2011, on Lillie Street in Fort Myers. A tattoo of Praying Hands is seen on her arm from the famed pen-and-ink of German printmaker, painter and theorist Albrecht Dürer. Below is the dates of Jones' birth, 11-19-97, and death. His murder remains unsolved. He was 13. Since, Hendley has founded Mothers Against Murderers, a support and awareness group to families of homicide victims.

Corey Perrine/Staff A Fort Myers police officer is seen crossing under yellow tape at the scene of an afternoon shooting at 2354 Willard Street Aug. 28, 2012 in Fort Myers. According to reports several males got into an argument resulting in one being shot. A neighbor took that person to Lee Memorial Hospital. No arrests were made at the time.

Corey Perrine/Staff Pall-bearers carry the casket containing Damarquis Blanks Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 at Unity Christian Church headed to Fort Myers Cemetery. Family and friends came to honor the life of Blanks who died of fatal gunshot wounds Sept. 13. at the 3400 block of Lantana Street. Police are still searching for a suspected killer. Blanks is the 17th homicide in Lee County this year.

Corey Perrine/Staff Officer Yvettea Dominique of the Fort Myers Police Department hi-fives children at the end of a presentation on safety and passing out Popsicles Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 at the STARS Complex in Fort Myers, Fla. Dominique says it's important to connect with the children at a young age to set them on the right foot and to foster a positive relationship between community and law enforcement.

Corey Perrine/Staff A photo of Damarquis Blanks, 19, is held up by his father Wayne Blanks Sept. 20, 2012 at their home in Fort Myers. Damarquis was found suffering from a gunshot wound Sept. 12 on Lantana Street and passed away Sept. 17, 2012, from those injuries.

Corey Perrine/Staff Wayne Blanks is comforted by family Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 at Fort Myers Cemetery in Fort Myers, Fla. Family and friends came to honor the life of Damarquis Blanks who died of fatal gunshot wounds Sept. 13. at the 3400 block of Lantana Street. Police are still searching for a suspect. Blanks was the 17th homicide in Fort Myers this year. Moments later, Wayne left in tears saying, "I can't do this, I can't do this," while being held back but left breaking free.

Corey Perrine/Staff Judah Williams cradles his baby daughter Magic Williams, 5 months, in the door of his apartment home Aug. 28, 2012. Across the street a shooting occurred a couple hours earlier which Fort Myers Police were investigating. Williams was part of the cycle that lures and ensnares young men who feel violence and or crime is an only option. However, he's since turned his life around after prison and is now a father of five with his own business.